Nut and bolt lock



(No Model.) y

1. G'. TINNAEY.-

` NUT AND BOLTLOGK.

No. 518,974. Patented May 1, 1894.

allianz@ UNITED STATES s PATENT OFFICE.

ISAAC G. TINNEY, OF YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO.

` NUT ANDBOLT LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 518,974, dated May 1, 1894.

Application filed October 1, 1892. Serial No. 447,570. (No model.)

To al? whom t may concern:4

Be 1t known that I, ISAAC G. TINNEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Youngstown,.1n the county of Mahoning and State of 0h10, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lock Nuts and Bolts; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of my invention, such fas will enable others skilled in the art to whlch it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to that class of lock nut and bolt devices used with fish-plates in Jolnmg rail road rails in which a washer cooperates to secure a lock of the nut, and its obJect is in a device that will accomplish a lock of the nut on the bolt that will be maintalned against all forces coming toit through the rails that tend to loosen other so called lock nuts, and which, without injury to any part may be readily applied and displaced, and as often as desired. I accomplish this by the mechanism hereinafter described and illustrated in the drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a transverse section view of the rail lr and fish-plates p p held in position by my invention. Fig. 2 is an end view of the head of my bolt b. Fig. 3 is a face or side view of my pawl-washer to. Fig. 4 is an edge view of the same, illustrating the spring ratchet catch c therein. Fig. 5 is a view of the ratchet end of the nut n; and Fig. 6 is a side view of the same.

Similar letters indicate similar parts in all views.

The causes which operate to loosen the nut by turning it backward are the slight rocking or partial rotation of the bolt induced by the slight movements of the rail, in alternating track line directions, resulting from the powerful force of passing trains, and the similar movements imparted to the nutby reason of the necessary contacts of the nut, iishplate, and rail. To sucoessfully'defend therefore the nut and bolt from such movements is to secure and maintain a lock of the nut, and my invention proceeds upon this idea.

The bolt b differs from other bolts used for similar purposes only in the form and bulk of the head.-- As is seen at Figs. 1 and 2 a side of the head is prolonged terminating in a flat surface having such line of incline as will allow it at all points to equally rest upon the upper surface of the horizontal part or v foot of the fish-plate p, while the opposite side of the head is spherically rounded on the three sides oppositeA the shoulder-'to escape the flanges of the car wheels.- The pawlwasher Lu is a piece of flat spring steel, rectangular, except rounded on its upper edge, like other washers provided with an opening for the passage of the bolt b and prolonged in the same manner, and for the same purpose, as the above described bolt head. From the perimeter upon the side over which the nut inY being turned to place passes upward, a cut is made to the opening on a line at or below its vertical center, and the lower edge of the" severed part is curved outward forming the pawl c to engage in the ratchets that appear on the inner side of the nut fn. and hold it from turning backward, the length of the pawl c being such that the nut will never become freed by expansion of the bolt.

In the manufacture of the washer w the pawl c is formed by the die that cuts outthe washer from hot metal so that it maintains, except when sprung backward, the position shown at Fig. 4. The nut 'n is the common interiorly threaded nut having cut into its inner end from the outer side to the central opening a continuous series of similar ratchets, as illustrated at Figs. 5 and 6.

My invention will now be understood and its manner of use and efficiency will be comprehended. To apply it, the bolt b is passed through the fish-plates p p and the rail r, the washer tu is passed over the threaded end of the bolt b to position against theiish-platep with the pawl c outward, as seen at Fig. l, and the nut n is then turned to place snugly against the washer w, the pawl c restingin a ratchet with its edge against a shoulder. vInasmuch as the bolt b and washer w are held rigidly from turning by the rest that each has upon the foot of the fish-plates p p, and

the nut is also held firmly against backward turn, by the pawl c acting in a ratchet of the nut n, it follows that it is impossible for the nut to become loosened except by intentional cause. It may be removed, however, Vwith the greatest facility by the use of a socket Wrench which pushes and holds back the pawl c as it turns the nut backward beyond its reach. Thus have I fully accomplished the object stated in the beginning of this specification.

While I have illustrated and described my invention as applied in joining railroad rails, I intend it for such other usesr as it may be applied to, as for instance, in iron bridge building and in other structures where a nut and bolt that will never become loosened by stress or accidental cause, are desirable.

I am aware that ratchet nuts are old in nut lock devices, as are also catches in the washers used therewith, but I am not aware that either a bolt having a head so prolonged upon one side that it impinges the fish-plate foot, or that a washer similar in forni to a vertical section of such bolt head and carrying the spring ratchet catch c was ever known prior to niy invention thereof.

What I claim is- In a nut and bolt lock for joining railroad rails in combination the bolt h threaded on one end and at the other end provided with a head suiiiciently prolonged on one side to impinge the foot iiange of the fish-plate p; the washer w prolonged in the lower portion to the foot iiange of the fish-plate 19, When in place, and carrying upon its side the pawl c formed by the outward curve of the lower edge made by a cut through the plate from the opening to the perimeter and upon that side over which the nut rotates upward in being turned to place; and the nut nhaving upon its inner end a series of ratchets, substantially as described and for the purpose expressed.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

- ISAAC G. TlNNEY. Witnesses:

Tiros. Connor, THEO. T. RooK. 

